Planning And Zoning Commission

Prepares and submits a comprehensive development plan for adoption by the City Council; makes recommendations for interpretation of the plans; acts as a zoning commission; prepares and recommends rules controlling subdivision of land; recommends approval or disapproval of plats for land subdivision; and recommends legislation to further City planning. Members of this nine member commission must be qualified voters and residents of the City at least one year immediately prior to appointment and cannot hold any other office or position in City administration. The length of terms is four years, with openings occurring in May.

Members & Terms:

Ray Puri - Term Ending May 31, 2015

Bill Tillotson - Term Ending May 31, 2015

Rusty Strodtman - Term Ending May 31, 2016

Stephen Reichlin - Term Ending May 31, 2016

Andy Lee - Term Ending May 31, 2017

Anthony Stanton - Term Ending May 31, 2018

Sara Loe - Term Ending May 31, 2017

Tootie Burns -Term Ending May 31, 2019

Lee Russell - Term Ending May 31, 2019

Establishing Legislation:

Sec. 20-36. Established. There is hereby established a commission, to be known as "the planning and zoning commission."

Sec. 20-37. Composition; appointment; term; qualifications; vacancies; compensation. (a) The commission shall consist of nine (9) members appointed by the council for staggered terms of four (4) years. All members shall be appointed as provided herein for terms beginning on the first day of June. All members serving on the commission onJune 2, 2014 shall complete such member’s existing term. Thereafter, the term of each member shall be four (4) years, provided that, in order to maintain staggered terms, one member whose current term expires in June 2015 shall be reassigned to a three (3) year term expiring in June 2018 and thereafter to subsequent four (4) year terms as provided herein.(b) The city manager shall designate the director of an administrative department as consultant and advisor to the commission but such person shall not be a member of the commission. The members of the commission shall be qualified voters, residents of the city at least one year immediately prior to the date of their appointment, and shall hold no other office or position in the city administration. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be for unexpired terms only. All members shall serve without pay. A member shall serve for up to one (1) month after the expiration of the member’s term if no successor has been appointed.(Code 1964, § 19.010; Ord. No. 9958, § 1, 10-3-83; Ord. No. 15435, § 1, 11-3-97; Ord. No. 15762, § 1, 9-21-98; Ord. No. 19080, § 1, 6-19-06;Ord. No. 22077, § 1,6-2-14; Ord. No. 22126, § 1,7-7-14)

Sec. 20-38. Attendance; forfeiture of office. The chair of the commission is authorized to excuse any member from attendance at a commission meeting; provided, that the member requested to be excused before the meeting. Any member who is absent, without being excused, from three (3) regular meetings in any twelve (12) month period shall automatically forfeit the ir office. Furthermore, any member who has a combination of five (5) or more excused or unexcused absences from regular meetings within any twelve (12) month period shall automatically forfeit their office. It shall be the duty of the chair to promptly notify the council of the vacancy.(Code 1964, § 19.010; Ord. No. 9958, § 1, 10-3-83; Ord. No. 15435, § 1, 11-3-97; Ord. No. 16773, § 1, 2-5-01; Ord. No. 17658, § 1, 4-21-03; Ord. No. 21813, § 1, 9-16-13)

Sec. 20-39. Officers; organization; rules and regulations; quorum. The commission shall elect annually from among its members its own chair, vice-chair and secretary, and from time to time provide such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the ordinances of the city, for its own organization and procedure as it may deem proper. Six (6) members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.(Code 1964, § 19.010; Ord. No. 9958, § 1, 10-3-83; Ord. No. 16773, § 1, 2-5-01; Ord. No. 16907, § 1, 5-21-01; Ord. No. 17658, § 1, 4-21-03)

Sec. 20-40. Reserved.

Sec. 20-41. Powers and duties--Generally. The commission shall have the authority and duty to:(1) Prepare and submit to the council for its adoption a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the city and uses of land in the city. The plan may include the general location and character of residential, commercial, industrial and other areas, the general location, character and extent of streets, bridges, parks, waterways and other public ways, grounds, and spaces, together with the general location of public buildings and other public property, public utilities, and the extent and location of any public housing or slum clearance projects.(2) Make recommendations in connection with the execution and detailed interpretation of the comprehensive plan.(3) Act as a zoning commission, in accordance with the provisions of present or future state zoning enabling acts.(4) Prepare and recommend to the council rules controlling the subdivision of land.(5) Make recommendations regarding the approval or disapproval of plats for land subdivision. Such plats shall be referred to the commission before the council takes any action. Failure of the commission to act within sixty (60) days shall be deemed an approval.(6) Recommend from time to time legislation which may be desirable to further the purposes of city planning.(7) Assume any other powers or duties as are provided for by the charter of the city.(Code 1964, § 19.010; Ord. No. 9958, § 1, 10-3-83; Ord. No. 16773, § 1, 2-5-01)

Sec. 20-42. Same--Zoning ordinance and subdivision plats.(a) The commission may recommend to the council such amendments or revisions to Chapter 29 of this Code as the commission shall deem necessary or desirable for the promotion of the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the inhabitants of the city. Such provisions may include regulations as to the location, width, height, and bulk of buildings; the size of yards, courts, and other open spaces surrounding buildings; and the use of buildings and land. The commission shall hear applications for amendments, modifications or revisions of the zoning ordinance and shall forward such applications to the council with its recommendations thereon. The recommendations of the commission shall not be binding upon the council, which may approve or disapprove the commission's findings; however, no plan, no zoning ordinance, nor any modification, amendment or revision thereof, shall be finally considered by the council unless the same shall have been first submitted to the commission for its examination and recommendation.(b) All plats of proposed subdivisions presented to the council for approval shall be submitted to the commission, which shall make recommendations to the council with respect thereto.(Code 1964, § 19.010; Ord. No. 9958, § 1, 10-3-83; Ord. No. 16773, § 1, 2-5-01)

Sec. 20-43. Reports. The commission shall make such reports to the council as it may deem proper or as required by the council.(Code 1964, § 19.010; Ord. No. 9958, § 1, 10-3-83; Ord. No. 16773, § 1, 2-5-01)